Traditions and culture in the Bahamas

Bahamian culture can be viewed historically as a hybrid of African and European cultures, although it has undergone considerable Americanisation in recent times.

Junkanoo music - featuring goatskin drums, brass and cow bells - is indigenous to the Bahamas, and is largely associated with the joyously celebrated carnivals on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Much of the African influences can be seen through the cuisine, while the country is devoutly religious and contains a huge number of churches.

In addition, the Bahamas is renowned for the impressive nature of its straw weaving, which derives from the natives requiring practical solutions such as baskets for carrying fruit.

Regattas are also a major part of Bahamian life on many of the islands and are normally characterised by one or more days of sailing on old-fashioned work boats.

Things to do in the Bahamas

The development of the country as a popular holiday destination means that the 18th-century Privateers' Republic has become something of a modern bankers' paradise, mainly on New Providence and Grand Bahama.

As such, anyone who has decided to book flights to the Bahamas but is seeking a more authentic West Indian atmosphere should head to the Family Islands.

The aforementioned Junkanoo festival is certainly worth a visit, while the week-long Caribbean Muzik Fest in late May or early June features talented artists across a range of genres - reggae, soca, junkanoo and dance hall.

With such a vast array of islands to visit or stay on, a decent value hotel should be easy to come by as long as bookings are made in advance - while avoiding the package holiday deluge is possible for travellers seeking a quieter trip.

The peak season is between mid-December and mid-April, so expect accommodation to be snapped up very early for these periods.

Weather in the Bahamas

The hottest months of the year are between May and October, when it is also the wet season, although the southern islands get excruciatingly hot between June and August.

Having said that, the Bahamas are a year-round destination as constant breezes ensure pleasant temperatures (just under 30C) from March to April and November to December.

Temperatures can also be surprisingly cool during the winter in some of the northerly and westerly islands.

Destination checklist for the Bahamas

The Bahamas has a population of 323,000.

The country is five hours behind GMT/UTC time.

The official currency is the Bahamian dollar.

English is the official language spoken.

The country's international dialling code is +242.